Grampian health bosses have been ordered to apologise to the family of a diabetic woman who endured “extremely poor” nursing care in hospital before she died.
The woman, named in a Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) report as Mrs A, underwent heart surgery to replace an aortic valve in December 2016 at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
She was transferred to Woodend Hospital several times due to her “changing and deteriorating” symptoms which also included suffering a stroke and “significant delirium” – but her symptoms did not improve and she died in March 2017.
The SPSO report found that “insufficient attention” had been given to Mrs A’s delirium whilst at ARI, which caused her “significant distress”.
A wound on her leg also became infected and she had pressure sores which were not treated correctly.
Her daughter, named as Mrs C in the report, was unhappy with her mother’s treatment and complained to the ombudsman.
The SPSO report was published yesterday and said: “While we found her medical care improved when she was initially transferred from ARI to Woodend Hospital, the nursing care of her leg wound remained extremely poor and caused Mrs A pain and distress which were all avoidable.
“We also found that the board’s own pressure ulcer prevention and management pathway had not been followed – her wounds were not treated frequently enough and inappropriate dressings were used.”
The watchdog has ordered NHS Grampian to apologise to Mrs A’s family for failing to give proper care whilst she was a patient under its care and has given them three months to provide evidence of care improvements.
Last night a spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “It is clear we let down Mrs A during her treatment. It is also clear we let down her family when they raised concerns with us.
“We accept the decision and recommendations of the ombudsman and will be complying with them.
“We apologise unreservedly to the family.”
